With hot weather and possible gorse fires, outside barbeques 'not the best idea'

With temperatures expected to reach as high as 29c over the weekend, a warning over the pitfalls of barbeques has been issued.

In the May hot snap, there were a number of fires in the county, with fire services stretched almost to breaking point as all units were out at jobs on occasion, leaving none at base to deal with possible domestic fires or accidents.

Gorse fires were reported in Creeslough, Dunfanaghy, Bunbeg and Ballindrait over the last fortnight and although there were no injuries or damage to property, it is felt that far too much is being left to chance.

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"As the next few days or so are expected to be dry, it’s important that people watch in relation to fires on our beaches or dunes," Cllr McMichael McCafferty of the Glenties MD warned. "it’s no place for barbecues or the likes on the grass for either camper vans parking - it’s not the best idea due to past history locally. Should anybody have concerns over the weekend, An Garda Síochána Donegal are the main point of contact."